Archives for September 2014

Introduction:

Jill and Brad talk about what’s coming up in this episode and what keeps them going to conferences. Even though they like to talk (shout) to a lot of people as they smile (stare) and shake hands (wave), conferences are a big investment of time and money — and yet they love to attend them. The ideas, the inspiration, the scale of the event itself are all reasons that keep them a ‘comin. Find out what ridiculosity ensues by listening to this latest episode. Then tweet and post about it (reminder: hashtag them at #jillnbrad) and make sure that you’ve gotten your copy of their incredible e-book! Get it here.

Guest #1:

Sam Rosen is the founder of Desktime where he helps to pair people with places to get work done by renting shared spaces, empty desks, conference rooms, or entire offices by the day, week, or month. Find him on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Special Announcement:

WE’RE GOING LIVE…AGAIN!!! Breaking Down Your Business has its second stop on the Hand Gestures Tour where Brad and Jill will be doing their SECOND LIVE. TAPING. On October 2, 2014, ContentJam will be hosting Jill & Brad as they talk to marketers at this exceptional Chicago conference. They’ll make you laugh. They’ll throw things at you. And they’ll be sure to embarrass themselves a tremendous amount. Join them!

Top 5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Conferences

No, really. How can you make the most of your conference experience? For a lot of folks it’s a blur, a giant mess of people and it’s always hard to figure out who to talk to, what to check out, and even what to wear. But if you pay attention to the little things like putting your social media handles onto your nametags and your nametag on the right side of your body (listen to find out why), you’re already doing it right. If you can stop handing out your business card so freely, figure out what your purpose is in attending before you get there, and then smile when you do, you’ll get a lot more out of these big events than if you go about it without Jill and Brad’s top tips. Have ways of your own that help you get the most out of conferences? Call Jill & Brad at 708.872.7878 and let them know.

Guest #2:

Tool of the Week:

2048 – This tool will destroy your productivity (thanks Brad!) It’s a game where 2’s and 4’s fall from the sky and you arrange them in a way where adding ‘em up gets you to 2048. Try it. You won’t be able to stop.

EnMast.comis a small business owner community that offers members a supportive community and mass resource to help owners. Like getting paid? You have to go get the Pricing Kit that will help you learn how to raise your prices, when to do it, how to tell your clients to do it, and will get you to…wait for it…raise your prices! Go get it here! HERE!

SELFIE CONTEST! Brought to you by ContentJam! Take a selfie while you’re listening to the Breaking Down Your Business podcast, post it to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #JillnBrad, and you could win one conference pass to the conference!

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Bonfyre – A great app to facilitate chatter at conferences among attendees

ContentJam – A conference all about content marketing, happening this year October 2 in Chicago

Cusp Conference – A conference all about thinkers, innovators, creators and design, happening October 22-23 in Chicago.

Staging (pronounced STOJ-ing) – An unpaid internship when a cook or chef works briefly, for free, in another chef’s kitchen to learn and be exposed to new techniques and cuisines.

What are some of the ways that you get the most out of attending conferences? Did Brad and Jill miss anything? Let us know! Leave us a Google Voicemail so that we can read it in a future episode at 708.872.7878. Or tweet at us using hashtag #jillnbrad. And leave us a review on iTunes — pretty please?Over here.

Introduction:

Jill and Brad talk about how no one’s ever mad at them when they don’t follow through on anything. Sound like a sob story waiting to happen? Of course it is. They talk about ways that they find accountability in their businesses, peer pressure they experience in their adult lives, and how Brad tracks his progress by using a scoreboard. Find out what ridiculosity ensues by listening to this latest episode. Then tweet and post about it (reminder: hashtag them at #jillnbrad) and make sure that you’ve gotten your copy of their incredible e-book! Get it here.

Guest #1:

Marc Talluto is the founder of Fruition Partners where he helps clients achieve superior results by combining extensive experience with service management tools and processes with a large and varied history of ServiceNow implementation and development work.Find him on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Special Announcement:

WE’RE GOING LIVE…AGAIN!!! Breaking Down Your Business has its second stop on the Hand Gestures Tour where Brad and Jill will be doing their SECOND LIVE. TAPING. On October 2, 2014, ContentJam will be hosting Jill & Brad as they talk to marketers at this exceptional Chicago conference. They’ll make you laugh. They’ll throw things at you. And they’ll be sure to embarrass themselves a tremendous amount. Join them!

Top 5 Ways To Get Accountability

We all need ways to get accountability so we can stick to what we said we were going to do to build a better business. If you do something as simple as asking someone to hold you to it, you’ve done more than plenty of other businesspeople. Set up reminders that pop up when you most need them. Set up systems — if you don’t get it done by X date, then Y will happen (self-punishment, much?) or join a group for support so that when you publicly state your goals, all eyes are on you. Have ways of your own that you get accountability to keep you on track? Call Jill & Brad at 708.872.7878 and let them know.

Guest #2:

Tool of the Week:

Boomerang – It’s a Gmail add-on that lets you schedule when you want email sent so you don’t look available at all hours even if you’re writing emails at all hours!

Sponsors:

SELFIE CONTEST! Brought to you by ContentJam! Take a selfie while you’re listening to the Breaking Down Your Business podcast, post it to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #JillnBrad, and you could win one conference pass to the conference!

EnMast.comis a small business owner community that offers members a supportive community and mass resource to help owners. Like getting paid? You have to go get the Pricing Kit that will help you learn how to raise your prices, when to do it, how to tell your clients to do it, and will get you to…wait for it…raise your prices! Go get it here! HERE!

What are some of the ways that you hold yourself accountable in your business? Did Brad and Jill miss anything? Let us know! Leave us a Google Voicemail so that we can read it in a future episode at 708.872.7878. Or tweet at us using hashtag #jillnbrad. And leave us a review on iTunes — pretty please?Over here.

Introduction:

Jill and Brad talk about what’s coming up this episode and figure out whether they are control freaks. Does it depend on who you’re talking to? Can you be a former control freak who is now in recovery? Do you micro manage, and if so, do you think you are running a successful business? Or do you believe that micromanaging and being a control freak are hindering the growth of your small business? Find out more — so much more — by listening to this freakishly entertaining episode. Then tweet and post about it (reminder: hashtag them at #jillnbrad) and make sure that you’ve gotten your copy of their incredible e-book! Get it here.

Guest #1:

Rieva Lesonsky is the founder of SmallBizDaily where she takes her decades of experience in entrepreneurship and brings to the world her unique take on the world of small business, and GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Find her on Facebook, Twitterand LinkedIn.

Special Announcement:

WE’RE GOING LIVE…AGAIN!!! Breaking Down Your Business has its second stop on the Hand Gestures Tour where Brad and Jill will be doing their SECOND LIVE. TAPING. On October 2, 2014, ContentJam will be hosting Jill & Brad as they talk to marketers at this exceptional Chicago conference. They’ll make you laugh. They’ll throw things at you. And they’ll be sure to embarrass themselves a tremendous amount. Join them!

Top 5 Signs That You May Be A Control Freak

There are too many businesses that are smaller than they need to be because their owners are holding it back by being a control freak. The mistakes are costly and the stakes are high, but to ensure the growth of your business, you must recognize your control spots and work on them to move past them. If you decide not to delegate tasks because everyone else would mess it up, you are probably a control freak. When you jump in and explain things for your teammates or colleagues if someone in your business is having trouble doing so, you are probably a control freak. When you identify one or two things that each person around you can change that would make you happier and you “help them out” by explaining these things…frequently and repeatedly…you are probably a control freak. So…are you a control freak?

Have signs of your own that might tell you you are, or are becoming, a control freak? Call Jill & Brad at 708.872.7878 and let them know.

Guest #2:

John Wright is the founder of John Wright Unlimited where unlocks and catalyzes inspired leadership by speaking, coaching, hosting workshops, asking the questions that your team and family are afraid to ask. Find him on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Tool of the Week:

Genius Scan – Digitize your documents! Just snap a photo of a document and voila, it turns into a .pdf. No need to sign, scan, fax, snail mail, and more…but if you feel steps are missing, go ahead and crop or filter it in that app, too.

Sponsors:

SELFIE CONTEST! Brought to you by ContentJam! Take a selfie while you’re listening to the Breaking Down Your Business podcast, post it to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #JillnBrad, and you could win one conference pass to the conference!

EnMast.comis a small business owner community that offers members a supportive community and mass resource to help owners. Like getting paid? You have to go get the Pricing Kit that will help you learn how to raise your prices, when to do it, how to tell your clients to do it, and will get you to…wait for it…raise your prices! Go get it here! HERE!

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Inc Magazine’s take – They list 8 more signs that you are a control freak. Just read it to make sure.

For The Rest of You – Not a control freak? Here are 30 apps to use to control your business from an iPad

What are some of the signs that you might be a small business control freak? Did Brad and Jill miss anything? Let us know! Leave us a Google Voicemail so that we can read it in a future episode at 708.872.7878. Or tweet at us using hashtag #jillnbrad. And leave us a review on iTunes — pretty please?Over here.

Introduction:

Jill and Brad talk about what’s coming up this episode and figure out that they can’t speak proper English very well. They also discuss what it is to be a seasoned entrepreneur (or rather, what they think those folks are like) and the fact that they can’t wait to get there, if you’ll have them. Hear their attempts to make sense in this superb episode (reminder: hashtag them at #jillnbrad) and make sure that you’ve gotten your copy of their incredible e-book! Get it here.

Guest #1:

Dave Delaney is the founder of NBN Radio, the New Business Networking podcast where Dave helps folks make the most of their professional networking efforts. Find him on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Special Announcement:

WE’RE GOING LIVE…AGAIN!!! Breaking Down Your Business has its second stop on the Hand Gestures Tour where Brad and Jill will be doing their SECOND LIVE. TAPING. On October 2, 2014, ContentJam will be hosting Jill & Brad as they talk to marketers at this exceptional Chicago conference. They’ll make you laugh. They’ll throw things at you. And they’ll be sure to embarrass themselves a tremendous amount. Join them!

Top 5 Skills You Need To Make Your Business Last

Jill and Brad discuss the top 5 skills you need to sustain your business over a long period of time. Things like persistence: Solving the problems in a business by looking at each one as an opportunity. And things like taking the time to live your life and not work 24/7 otherwise you won’t last one single minute running your business over the long haul. Focusing on the important stuff, prioritizing the right things, and having the confidence to get through the roller coaster ride that is running a small business are also skills to improve constantly and help to make your business last. Have tips of your own that help you run your business better over the long haul? Call Jill & Brad at 708.872.7878 and let them know.

Guest #2:

Rita Morales is the founder of Brainy Girl Designs where she works with entrepreneurs to build a consistent brand using creative and unique design development to make your business flourish. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Tool of the Week:

TimerCam – It’s dead-simple. The only feature that separates TimerCam from the iPhone’s default camera app is a timer, with options for 5, 10, 15, and 30-second shooting delays. The flash can be set to on, off, or auto, and it can toggle between the front and rear cameras. That’s all there is to it.

Sponsors:

SELFIE CONTEST! Brought to you by ContentJam! Take a selfie while you’re listening to the Breaking Down Your Business podcast, post it to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #JillnBrad, and you could win one conference pass to the conference!

EnMast.comis a small business owner community that offers members a supportive community and mass resource to help owners. Like getting paid? You have to go get the Pricing Kit that will help you learn how to raise your prices, when to do it, how to tell your clients to do it, and will get you to…wait for it…raise your prices! Go get it here! HERE!

Refresh – The app searches the web to deliver insights about the people you’re meeting.

What are some of the ways that you work on making your business last over the long haul? Did Brad and Jill miss anything? Let us know! Leave us a Google Voicemail so that we can read it in a future episode at 708.872.7878. Or tweet at us using hashtag #jillnbrad. And leave us a review on iTunes — pretty please? Over here.

Introduction:

Jill and Brad talk about what’s coming up this episode and whether they’d like to clone themselves to get more done. But would a clone be a good assistant for you? It would not be for Brad, or so he thinks. If they could clone an army, world domination awaits. Or does it? Find out in this superb episode with Jill & Brad (reminder: hashtag them at #jillnbrad) and make sure that you’ve gotten your copy of their incredible e-book! Get it here.

Guest #1:

Coco Meers is the founder of Pretty Quick, an app that makes it insanely easy to book your beauty appointments. It’s the Uber plus OpenTable of beauty. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. And use code BDYB entitling you to a free manicure (and if it’s not a manicure, $15 in credit) for first-time users of the Pretty Quick app!!

Special Announcement:

WE’RE GOING LIVE…AGAIN!!! Breaking Down Your Business has its second stop on the Hand Gestures Tour where Brad and Jill will be doing their SECOND LIVE. TAPING. On October 2, 2014, ContentJam will be hosting Jill & Brad as they talk to marketers at this exceptional Chicago conference. They’ll make you laugh. They’ll throw things at you. And they’ll be sure to embarrass themselves a tremendous amount. Join them!

Top 5 Ways To Run Your Business Better If You Could Clone Yourself

Jill and Brad discuss the top 5 alternatives to cloning yourself to make your business better. If you can’t clone yourself, you can always hire administrative help — a virtual assistant, an assistant, even your favorite cousin or 6-year old intern. Relieve the burden of tedious admin tasks and get back hours of your week. Create a “don’t do” list so that instead of adding things to your to-do list, make a list of things you should just hand off instead and force yourself to get help. Set clear goals, do less and really focus on the things that only you can do. It will make you a better business person. Have tips of your own that help you run your business better even if you can’t clone yourself? Call Jill & Brad at 708.872.7878 and let them know.

Guest #2:

Malik Turley is the founder of Hip Circle Studio where helps women (and the people who love them) throughout every stage of life. Providing a blend of dance and fitness classes (Belly dancing! Yeah!), services, resources, and community events, Hip Circle Studio is the place to be for you and your family. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Tool of the Week:

Sponsors:

SELFIE CONTEST! Brought to you by ContentJam! Take a selfie while you’re listening to the Breaking Down Your Business podcast, post it to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #JillnBrad, and you could win one conference pass to the conference!

EnMast.comis a small business owner community that offers members a supportive community and mass resource to help owners. Like getting paid? You have to go get the Pricing Kit that will help you learn how to raise your prices, when to do it, how to tell your clients to do it, and will get you to…wait for it…raise your prices! Go get it here! HERE!

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Uber – A fantastic ride-sharing company — in the form of an app — to use when you need a ride to your next business meeting.

Lyft – Another fantastic ride-sharing company — in the form of an app — to use when you need a ride to your next business meeting.

Bonfyre – An app that offers a private social network for coworkers, colleagues and business events.

The Five Minute Journal – It’s a physical journal that has been carefully crafted to enable you to be happier in five minutes a day.

What are some of the ways that you run your business better even though you can’t clone yourself? Did Brad and Jill miss anything? Let us know! Leave us a Google Voicemail so that we can read it in a future episode at 708.872.7878. Or tweet at us using hashtag #jillnbrad. And leave us a review on iTunes — pretty please? Over here.

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